Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (CPD, 2022 – 2026), UNDP in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP has a long history working in Lao PDR. UNDP’s comparative advantage has been its ability to work closely with a very broad range of government and local-level institutions at all levels. The new CPD 2022-2026 builds on the achievements of the previous CPD that saw the incorporation of the SDGs into the national planning architecture. The UNDP’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government of Lao PDR in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across three broad priority pillars – (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities, including UXO clearance and risk education, (2) natural resources, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and (3) effective, responsive, and accountable governance (Lao CPDtendersglobal.netUNDP).

UNDP, in close partnership with key government ministries, institutions, and other stakeholders, has been implementing a wide range of development projects and interventions in Lao PDR, covering many important thematic areas, including natural resources, forestry, biodiversity, water, energy, social issues, economics, finance, poverty alleviation, governance, the rule of law, access to justice, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The LAO PDR Efficiency and Accessibility to Public services (LEAP) Programme 

The LAO PDR Efficiency and Accessibility to Public services (LEAP) Programme aims to improve the quality of public services by enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and inclusivity, in a context characterized by various challenges, including the socio-economic strains exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing digital transformation since 2021, which are rapidly reshaping citizen needs. This stresses the urge for adaptive measures to address these needs and to build resilience within the public administration system. The initiative addresses barriers such as high regulatory burdens, excessive fees, and limited government capacity in remote areas through streamlined processes and digital solutions, including One-Stop Service Centers (ODSCs). Despite hurdles in ODSC implementation, the government”s commitment to digitalization and standards improvement, outlined in the National Strategy on Public Services (2023), presents a critical opportunity for modernizing service delivery nationwide. Local governments are pivotal in bridging gaps, particularly in remote areas, ensuring equitable service access. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in advocacy and capacity-building, fostering transparency, citizen participation, and advocating for vulnerable groups” rights. The UNDP”s Public Administration and Participation Portfolio proposes this framework, combining two main components, one focusing on improving access to public services through ODSCs and the other focuses on reinforcing the role of the national civil society in promoting these public services. The overall objective is to catalyse transformative change, partnering with the Government to strengthen public service delivery in Lao PDR and increasing civic space in the country.The position will be based in UNDP Lao PDR Country Office in Vientiane.

The Technical Specialist will support in delivering the project outputs as outlined in the project document, to the required standards of quality and taking into account the implications of time and cost.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Specialist liaises closely with the national authorities working in the thematic area of the project, the donor community, and other UNDP programmes and projects in the country. The Technical Specialist works with the project experts and counterparts of the Government beneficiary institution(s), as well as engages with other national institutions, international organizations, and other relevant actors.

Provide top quality technical advisory services. 

• Provide cutting-edge policy advice in the thematic area of the project and facilitate policy dialogues with partners, promoting UNDP thought leadership and advocacy work. Establish advocacy networks at the country level and linked to international networks. Contribute to relevant, high-impact advocacy campaigns that are implemented with key partners.
• Contribute to the analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the context of the project and advise the UNDP CO management on issues related to the thematic area of the project, including including governance, digitalization and gender equity/transformation.
• Contribute to the setting of technical standards based on regional and global best practices in the thematic area of the project, especially in the area of:
  • Serving as Gender Focal Point for the Country Office ensuring gender mainstreaming and steps towards achievement of renewal of the Silver Gender Seal. As the Gender Focal Point, they will be in charge of the implementation of the CO Gender Equality Action Plan, including actively participating in capacity-building activities and fostering gender equality within the public sector in Laos.
  • Providing technical leadership and support to UNDP CO digital transformation processes

Support effective implementation of programme/project activities aimed at local economic development. 

• Provide technical support, working in collaboration with the Project Manager/Team Leader, in planning and effectively implementing project activities within the scope of approved budgets, workplans and other project documents and in alignment with UNDP’s programmatic priorities and goals. Supervise and coordinate the work of the project team and consultants. Provide guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise, including preparation of TORs and evaluation of experts.
• Provide timely and quality technical advice and guidance for the project implementation in line with UNDP’s rules and regulations, and UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures.
• Manage and monitor project financial resources; and analyze project progress to identify risks and other implementation problems.  Ensure timely collection of data for reporting on project activities, outputs, and outcomes; and substantially contribute to the preparation of narrative and financial progress reports, including donor reports. Provide technical guidance on risk mitigation measures to address implementation problems. Update risk logs.
• Coordinate and participate in quality control mechanisms, seeking to improve the technical quality of the project outputs, products, publications, and policy discussion papers and briefs.

Support strategic partnership building and resource mobilization. 

• Establish and maintain a strategic understanding of and engagement with all the relevant institutions, including establishing contact and developing strategic partnerships with other UN agencies, government institutions, donors, NGOs, IFIs, the private sector, academia, civil society, and other stakeholders and beneficiaries at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Participate in meetings with donors, prepare and deliver presentations of project results, and follow up with relevant counterparts if requested by the supervisor.
• Implement resource mobilization strategies to achieve project outcomes that include facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions to strengthen relationships and raise funds. Identify new funding opportunities for furthering the project ideas.

Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the UNDP country office.

• Organize training for the project personnel to enhance their capacities in the technical matters of the thematic area of the project.
• Identify, evaluate, synthesize, and document lessons learned and best practices directly linked to the project goals and activities. Develop knowledge sharing materials and respond to related queries.
• Contribute substantively to knowledge networks and communities of practice within the thematic area of the project.
• Develop and carry out a personal learning plan.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development

• Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Risk management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Partnership Management

• Resource Mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
• Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding: Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
• Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Thematic competency

• Governance
  • Public Administration Reform: Ability to design, implement, and oversee policies, structures, and processes that enhance transparency, accountability, efficiency, and inclusiveness in government institutions and decision-making.
• Gender
  • Gender Mainstreaming and Advocacy: Ability to promote the integration of gender equality principles across policies, programs, and institutional frameworks, while actively advocating for inclusive and equitable development through awareness, capacity-building, and strategic partnerships.
• Governance
  • Digital Transformation: Ability to conceptualize, implement, and manage digital strategies that advance the digital transformation agenda in the country. Ability to promote the integration of digital innovation across institutional systems and policies, while fostering inclusive digital ecosystems through stakeholder engagement, capacity development, and evidence-based policymaking

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master”s degree or equivalent) in Development studies or Public Administration or field related to thematic area is required OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience at the international level in providing technical advice, conducting research, formulating policies, and/or developing and managing complex projects in sectors applicable to public administration, digitalization and gender or other thematic area(s).

Required skills:

• Experience with project planning and consulting
• Experience in fostering networks and partnerships.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in providing substantive leadership and guidance, oversight, monitoring, and reporting for projects/programmes with similar scale, scope, and complexity.
• Ability to provide coordination with the UN Agencies, international and other organizations present in the sector.
• Knowledge and experience in governance related areas and digitalization of the public sector and gender equality programming
• Experience in project monitoring and quality assurance.
• Good communication, facilitation, and coordination skills.
• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of portfolio work
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Required Languages

• Fluency in the UN language of the duty station is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable for IPSA.

Professional Certificates

• If required for specific services. For example: ACCA, CIPS, CISCO, etc.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

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